Генеральные штаты во Франции, высшее сословно-представительское учреждение в 1302-1789 гг., имевшее характер совещательного органа. Генеральные штаты созывались королем в критические моменты французской истории и должны были обеспечить королевской воле поддержку общества. В своем классическом виде французские Генеральные штаты состояли из трех палат: представителей дворянства, духовенства и третьего, податного сословия. Каждое сословие заседало в Генеральных штатах отдельно и выносило особое мнение по обсуждаемому вопросу. Чаще всего Генеральные штаты утверждали решения о сборе налогов.
States-General in France — the highest class-a Executive institution in 1302-1789 years. The emergence of the States General was associated with the growth of cities, the aggravation of social contradictions and class struggle, which caused the need to strengthen the feudal state. Predecessors of the States-General were enlarged sessions of the Royal Council (with the assistance of city top), and the provincial Assembly of estates (marking the beginning of the provincial States). The first States-General were convened in 1302, during the conflict with Philip IV Pope Boniface VIII. The States General was a deliberative body, convened on the initiative of Royal power in the critical moments to assist the government. Their main function was the quota of taxes. Each class — first, second, third estate met in General separately from other States and had one vote (regardless of the number of representatives). The third estate was represented by the tip of the townspeople. The value of the States General increased during the hundred years ' war 1337-1453, when the Royal power was particularly in need of money. In the period of popular uprisings of the fourteenth century (the Paris uprising of 1357-1358, 1358 Jacquerie) States-General claimed for active participation in the governance of the country (such requirements are expressed the States General of 1357, in the "Great March Ordinance"). However, the lack of unity between the cities and their implacable hostility to nobility made fruitless attempts of the French General States to achieve rights that has managed to conquer the English Parliament. In the end of XIV century the States General were convened less and often replaced by meetings of notables. From the end of XV century the Institute of the States General went into decline in the beginning of the development of absolutism within 1484-1560, they generally have not been convened (known to revive their activities was observed in the period of Religious wars — General States were convened in 1560, 1576, 1588, and 1593 years). From 1614 until 1789, the General States again was never going to. Only on 5 may 1789 in conditions of acute political crisis on the eve of the French revolution, the king convened the States General. On 17 June 1789 the deputies of the third estate declared itself the National Assembly July 9, the National Assembly declared itself the Constituent Assembly, which became the highest representative and legislative organ of revolutionary France. In the XX century the name of the States General took some Executive meeting dealing with political issues and expressing public opinion (for example, the Assembly of the States General for disarmament, may 1963).
